Finger cot and method of making same



Feb. 15, 1949. Y HNEGAN 2,461,970

FINGER COT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19,1945 INVENTOR JOHN C. FiNEGkN ATTORN Y J. C. FINEGAN FINGER COT ANDMETHOD OF MAKING SAME Feb. 15, 1949.

2 SheefcsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1945 INVENTOR JOHN C. FiNEGAN ATTORNEYPatented Feb. 15, 1949 FINGER COT AND METHODOF MAKING SAME John C.Fin'egan, East Orange, N. J., assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application December 19,1945, Serial No. 635,897

7 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a guard or protective device andhas particular reference to a novel finger cot and method of makingsame.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide novel meansand method of forming finger protection means which is simple,inexpensive and durable in construction.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character so formedas to provide maximum protect-ion while aiiording free use and flexingof the finger.

A further object is to provide novel resilient means for retaining theprotective device on the finger and a simple and unique method ofsecuring said resilient means to said device so as to protect thesecuring means against wear during the use of the device.

Many other objects and advantages will become and be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and it is to be understood that many changes and modificationsmay be made both in the details of construction, arrangement of partsand methods shown and described without departing from the spirit of myinvention as set forth in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do notwish to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts, details ofconstruction and method shown and described, as the preferred form isgiven only by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is a perspective view of the device emb'odying the invention inposition of use;

Fig. II is a perspective view of the finished article;

Fig. III is a plan view of a portion of the device, illustrating a stepin the method of fabrication;

Fig. IV is a view generally similar to Fig. III of another part of thedevice.

Fig. V is a plan view of the resilient member prior to its assembly withthe device;

Fig. VI is a plan view illustrating the method of assembling andsecuring the parts together;

Fig. VII is an enlarged cross sectional view of the assembly taken alongline VII-VII of Fig. VI and looking in the direction indicated by thearrows; and

Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. VII illustrating how the securingmember and the portion to which it is attached are reversed as to theirinitially secured relation with each other and to position the stitchedjoined portions thereof .inwardly of said device.

In many industrial activities such as when holding articles to 'besanded, bufied, polished or the like, protection means for one or moreof the fingers is often desirable. Such means not only avoid injury butalso greatly increase the performance of the worker and ultimately savemany man hours in production costs. The major requirements of such adevice are that it be of simple and inexpensive design and construction,that it will not restrict the free movement or flexing of the finger,that it be self-retaining in position of use and that it provideadequate protection.

Applicant has provided a device not only satisfying all of the aboverequirements but, additionally, has devised a new and improved method offabrication.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters ofreference denote like parts throughout the several views, the deviceembodying the invention comprises an inner or main protective member '9,as illustrated in Fig.

III, blanked from leather, canvas or other suitable material and tocontrolled contour shape and size. An outer member Ill, as shown in Fig.IV, is blanked from similar material and to the same general shape andsize as the forward portion of the member 9 so that the two members maybe arranged one on the other with their edges in substantially flushrelation with each other. The

parts 9 and ID are secured to each other adjacent their side edges andends, as by stitching M,

to form a pocket for the finger. As shown in Fig.

I, the outer member ID is of suificient length to cover the back of theforward portion of the finger but does not extend over the intermediateknuckle l8. The inner or main member 9 has a .lip portion [2 integrallyformed with it to which the strap-like securing member I I, shown inFig. V, is attached, said strap or securing member ll preferably beingformed of a fabric having resilient qualities or having rubber or othersimilar means interwoven therewith.

As shown in Figs. VI and VII, the three members are initially positionedin their proper relation, substantially flat, one on the other, with theouter member l0 being positioned on the forward portion of the mainmember 9 and the strap or securing member II under the lip portion I2 ofsaid main member 9, the strap or securing member II first having itsends I3 folded under. Thus arranged, the component parts of the devicemay be simply and efliciently secured together by a single line ofstitches I4 following the general contour of the side edges and forwardend of the main member 9 slightly inwardly thereof.

After the parts have been assembled and stiched together as shown inFigs. VI and VII, the strap or securing member II is then positioned onthe opposite side of the portion I2, as illustrated in Fig. VIII. Thisis accomplished by folding the free end of the lip portion I2 inwardlybeneath the strap or securing member II and again drawing said free endoutwardly over the strap or securing member II to a final position asshown in Figs. I and II. This causes the stitch joined edges, togetherwith the stitchings, to be located inwardly of the strap or securingmember II and provides a neat connection thereof with the portion I2.This not only protects the stitchings from being engaged by the work andbecoming prematurely worn but also causes the side portions I6 of thelip I2, adjacent the connection joint, to curve inwardly as shown inFig. VIII. In this manner the inwardly extending ends provide a moresnug fit and a more positive gripping action with the finger. The fit issuch as to prevent twisting relative to the finger when in use.

Referring again to Fig. IV, the rear portion of the outer member ID isinitially cut or blanked with a forwardly extending curved contour I soas to provide positive knuckle clearance and a snug fit of the deviceabout the finger.

The integral lip portion I2 of the main protective member 9 is adaptedto fit about the base of the finger so as to afford protection to thatpart of the finger.

It is also to be noted, as illustrated in Fig. I, that the portion I9joining the main member 9 with the integral portion I2 and which liesbetween the strap or securing member II and outer member ID, being of asingle thickness, affords free flexing of the intermediate knuckle I8when the device is in position of use on the finger.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, efficientand economical means. and method have been provided for accomplishingall of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A finger protection device comprising a pair of superimposed membersof flexible material, one of which is of a length sufficient to coversubstantially the length of one side of a finger and the other being ofa length extending substantially to the intermediate knuckle of thefinger, said members being connected with each other adjacent the outeredges thereof to form a pocket-like portion with a portion of the firstmember extending outwardly of said pocket-like member and a strap-likemember of resilient material having its ends secured to the side edgesof said outwardly extending portion with said side edges curvinginwardly and with the ends of said strap-like member lying inwardly ofthe securing means to provide a more positive gripping action with thefinger.

2. A finger protection device comprising a pair of superimposed membersof flexible material, one of which i of a length to cover substantiallythe length of one side of a finger with a portion overlying the base ofthe finger and the other being of a length extending substantially tothe intermediate knuckle of the finger and having an adjacent forwardlycurving edge portion, said members being secured in superimposedrelation with each other to form a pocket-like member, and resilientstrap-like means secured to said portion overlying the base of thefinger by thread-like connection means with the sides of said portionoverlying the base of the finger and the ends of said strap-likeresilient means extending inwardly of the thread-like connection means.

3. A finger protection device comprising a pair of superimposed membersof flexible material, one of said members being of a length greater thanthe other, means securing edge portions of said members together with aportion of said longer member extending beyond the shorter member and astrap-like portion of resilient material secured to said extendingportion with the side edges of said extending portion and the ends ofthe strap-like resilient portion extending inwardly of said securingmeans to provide a more positive gripping action with the finger.

4. A finger protection device comprising a pair of superimposed membersof flexible material, one of said members being of a length greater thanthe other, means securing edge portions of said members together with aportion of said longer member extending beyond the shorter member and astrap-like portion of resilient material secured to said extendingportion, the means securing said three members together comprising asingle line of stitching.

5. A method of forming a finger protection device comprising forming apair of protection members of flexible material of controlled shape andsize, the main member being of a length greater than the other, forminga strap-like member of resilient material, placing said members insuperimposed relation with the shorter protection member lying on oneside of the main member and adjacent one end thereof and with theresilient strap-like member lying on the opposed side of the main memberand adjacent the other end thereof, securing said members together insaid relation and thereafter reversing the position of the resilientstrap-like member to cause said strap-like member to lie on the side ofthe main member on which the other member lies.

6. A method of forming a finger protection device comprising forming apair of protection members of flexible material in controlled shape andsize, the main member of which being of a length greater than the other,forming a straplike member of resilient material, placing said membersin superimposed relation with the shorter protection member lying on oneside of, the main member and adjacent one end thereof and-with theresilient strap-like member lying on the other side of the main memberand adjacent the opposed end thereof, securing said members together insaid relation by a single stitching and thereafter reversing theposition of the resilient strap-like portion to cause said strap-likeportion to lie on the side of the main member on which the other memberlies.

7. A method of forming a finger protection device comprising forming apair of protection members of flexible material, the main member ofwhich is of a length greater than the other, forming a strap-like memberof resilient material,

10 Number main member and said strap-like member adjacent the stitcheslying inwardly of said stitches.

JOHN C. FINEGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 293,831 Wickers Feb. 19, 1884 2,351,906Beatty June 20, 1944

